Fluid separators



y 1960 c. M. TURSKY FLUID SEPARATORS Filed July 16. 1958 INVENTOR. CHARLES M. TURSKY ATTORNEY United This invention relates to devices for use in separating particles from fluids or separating a fluid in one consistency from a lighter fluid in what may be termed a filtering operation. More particularly, the invention deals with a device of the character described employing a cylinder having a mountable head at one end with a multiplicity of coils supported in the cylinder, the head having means for admitting and discharging fluid with respect to the cylinder and a single bolt or other coupling means for detachably supporting the cylinder in connection with the head; thereby facilitating cleaning of the separator or filter elements from time to time without displacing the head from a suitable support.

. The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain ,embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, theseparate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and, in which:

I Fig. l is a side and sectional view of a separator device made according to my invention.

Fig. 2 is a partial section on the line 22 of Fig. l on an enlarged scale.

"Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the closed end of a separator or filter coil.

Fig. 4 is a partial section on the line 4-4 of Fig.1; and

1 Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view through one of the separator or filter coils.

My invention relates primarily to separators for use in conjunction with apparatus, mechanisms of various types and kind for the purpose of separating undesirable particles or foreign elements from fluids to be supplied to the apparatus, or in separating heavy fluids from lighter fluids rates Faten't O in order to transmit and feed to the apparatus the desired end fluid product for successive and proper functioning of the apparatus.

. By way of giving some illustrations, the device can b utilized as a separator in the supply of oil to various hydraulically operated devices or apparatus, for the passage of lubricating oils to various machines or apparatus, including motors, the separation or filtering of fuel supplied to an engine or other power medium, the separation of foreign particles from water systems of various types and kinds and many other uses which will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

The invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, employs a relatively small cylinder or casing .10, preferably having a downwardly contracted or tapered bore 11 extending to a contracted lower end 12 having an aperture 13 therein. At 14 is shown a head in the form of a ring-like cap, having extended flanges 15 in any suitable arrangement for adaptation to a predetermined support, the flanges being apertured, as seen at 16, for reception of fastening devices to secure the head to such support.

The head 14 has a central bore 17, smaller in diameter than the bore 13 so as to accommodate a long coupling bolt 18, having a small diameter upper end 19 and a larger diameter lower end 20, these diameters intersecting at the line 21 and the smaller diameter end 19 joins th end 20 in an outwardly flared wall portion 22.

The bore 17 is arranged adjacent the upper end of the head 14 and this bore communicates with a larger diameter bore 23, which opens into a large annular recess or 2,945,445 Patented July 26, 1960 chamber 24 in the lower surface of the head 14. In the recess 24 is fitted snugly, but freely, the upper flange end 25 of a disc 26 and this flanged end is sealed upon the upper end of the cylinder 10 by an O-ring or the like, as indicated at 27.

The disc 26 has a multiplicity of small diameter apertures 28 which open into a further annular recess 29 on the bottom wall of the recess 24 and slightly larger diameter apertures 30, in which upper ends of a multiplicity of separator or filter coils 31 are cemented or otherwise secured.

It will also be apparent that the disc proper fits snugly in the upper end of the cylinder 10. It will further appear that the disc 26 has, centrally thereof, a bore 32, which registers with the bore 23 of the head 14. At this time, it is also well to note that the line of division at 21 on the bolt 18 is positioned adjacent but below the lower end of the disc 26, so that fluid introduced into the separator will be directed by the curved surface 22 radially and laterally into the cylinder 10, this fluid being introduced through an intake pipe 33 coupled with one side of the head and opening into a port 34, which registers with the bore 23. At the opposed side of the head 14 is 'a discharge pipe 35, registering with an L-shaped bore or passage 36 which, in turn, communicates with the annular recess 29.

The bolt 18 has an integral head 37 at its lower end with a nut 38, washer 39 and O-ring 40 at its opposed end, thus providing the clamping action of the entire assemblage and it is preferred that a gasket 41 be positioned between the head 37 and the lower end of the cylinder. The lower end of the bolt has a large threaded bore 42 for reception of a petcock or other type of valve 43, controlling drainage discharge, the bore 42 communicating with a small diameter bore 44, having a radial branch 45 opening into the lower contracted end of the cylinder 10 for discharge of sediment or the like collected in this lower contracted end.

Considering Fig. 2 of the drawing, it will appear that the coils 31 are arranged snugly with respect to each other in the cylinder or casing 10, but still provide passages 46 therearound, so that fluid introduced into the cylinder will have access to the periphery of all of the coils 31 and the fluid, with the foreign particles or the like separated therefrom, will pass into the bore 47 of the coils and, thus, into the apertures 28, the recess 29, the

, L-shaped passage 36 and out through the discharge pipe.

35 for passage to any type and kind of apparatus.

However, in some instances, where extensiveseparation or filtration is desired, the fluid discharged from .one.

separator can be directed to anothenseparator having a finer arrangement of separation or filtration in its coils.

pear that the lower end of each of the coils 31, or the:

bore 47 therein, is sealed by a plug having a rounded.

head end 48 and a pin end 49 fitted snugly in the coils;

In some instances, the attachment of the plugmay be by. way of :a suitable cement, particularly as and whenhigh pressures are used in passage of fluids into and through the coils. It will be noted, from a consideration of Fig. 'l of the drawing, that some of thecoils extenddeeper into the cylinder 10 than others and these are-- The showing in Fig-r 1- indicated at 31 in said figure. is. simply diagrammatic and, if desired, every other coilin each of the circumferential rows of coils, as noted in Fig. 2, can be one of the longercoils.

The coils are made in accordance with the teachings in my prior Patent Number 2,7 61,5 66,, granted September;

4, 1956, in other words, in the present showing, the angularity in the windings illustrated at 58 and the flats will appear, as at 51, in the diagrammatic showing of Pig. 5 and, by control of the windings and the flats, the degree of separation in the coils can be regulated to extremely fine areas suilicient to separate one fluid from a heavier fluid and, further, in control of the separation of particles, particularly as to size when the device is used primarily as a separator.

At this time, it is also well to bear in mind that, by using the multiple pass idea in a series of the separators, a control can be had for grading the size of the particles separated in each of the several passes, the larger panticles being first removed and then grading down to the minutest of particles. This latter method of procedure would be desirable as and when the retrieving of the different size particles would be advantageous for secondary uses, particularly where the particles separated would con- .stitute usage end products.

It is believed that the function and operation of my improved separator or filter will be apparent from a consideration of the foregoing description but, briefly, it may be stated that the incoming fluid introduced under a predetermined pressure through the pipe 33 is first flared radially into the upper end of the cylinder and through the coils at the upper end of the cylinder at the position 21 on the bolt 13. Some of the fluid also passes downwardly into the cylinder at the inner ends of the coils. A separated fluid passes into the bores 47 of the coil, then out through the discharge pipe 35 through the path previously set forth, particles, sediment or the like removed by the multiplicity of coils will drop into the lower contracted end of the cylinder 16 and may be periodically discharged by opening of .the valve 43. This can be a pressure discharge, in some instances, with the pressure applied by the incoming fluid.

Itis also apparent that, periodically, in some instances, the passes of flow can be reversed and a suitable cleaning fluid introduced into the pipe 35 to clear the coils, facilitating discharge of any foreign matter, particles or the like that may collect upon the surfaces of the coils. In this last operation, suitable means will be provided to close the passes in the pipe 33 so that the discharge will be through the lower end of the casing and the valve 43.

As and when desired, the bolt 18 can be removed, the casing 10 dropped from the head 14 and the filter unit, comprising the disc 26, with the coils 31 fixed thereto, can be removed from the casing 10 and washed or otherwise cleaned for freeing all of the passages in the coils and, then, the parts can be re-assembled quickly and easily for a continued use of the separator or filter.

The various materials employed in the complete separator will depend entirely upon the uses to which the separator is applied. However, in most uses, the wire of the coils 31 will be made from stainless steel and highly finished, so as to provide free unobstructed passage of the fluid through the coils and to minimize collection of foreign matter on the coils.

By employing the tapered bore 11 in the cylinder or casing, the lower ends of the coils are urged or crammed inwardly to a slight extent, thus reducing spacing between the coils at the lower end portions thereof. For purposes of description, the port 34 and passage 36 may be referred to as intake and discharge passages, the intake communicating with the bore 23 of the head; whereas, the discharge communicates with the annular recess 29.

It will be apparent that in cramming lower ends of the coils by virtue of the taper of the casing, the lower ends of the coils are brought into closer proximity to each other than where the coils are attached to the disc 26. This structural feature aids in retarding the larger particles or foreign elements which, in many instances, may actually collect in and be retained in the passages 46 between the coils and be displaced as and when the filter element is .removed from the casing and the head. In this connection, it must be borne in mind that coils, when the unit is free, are held only in the disc 26. The remainder of the coils are free for agitation or shaking in displacing particles during a washing or cleaning operation.

it may be well to point out, by way of illustration, that, in a cylinder where the bore 11 is approximately 1% in diameter at its lower end portion, fifty odd coils can be arranged in the casing around the bolt or member 18, the coils being substantially 3" in length and, with approximately fifty windings per inch, with approximately twelve controlled filter passages between adjacent windings, it will be apparent that, in a relatively small unit of the type and kind under consideration anywhere from 300,000 to 500,000 filter passages can be provided at any degree .of filtration which may be desired, here keeping in mind that, when several passes of fluid are made through a plurality of separators, the degree of opening in the filter passages will be varied.

Where water or condensation prevails in a liquid, it will be apparent that a filter of the type and kind disclosed will separate the water from the liquid in passage through the separator and this can be periodically drained through the drainage means provided. In this sense, the condensation or water is one of the numerous undesirable particles of foreign elements which can prevail in light and heavy oils and gases, as well as in other chemicals.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A separator of the character described, comprising a tubular casing open at the upper end, a head detachable with the upper end of the casing, said head having intake and discharge passages, the head having a bore communicating with the intake passage and an annular recess communicating with the discharge passage, a coil unit comprising a disc having a multiplicity of apertures therein and spiral coils fixed to the disc and registering with said apertures, said disc forming the sole support of the coils .freely in said casing, means for sealing said disc within the head and directly upon said cylinder, said spiral coils extending to the lower portion of said casing, means sealing the lower ends of said coils, the upper ends of the coils communicating with the annular recess in said head through the apertures in said disc, and said disc having a bore registering with the bore of said head for directing the intake through the head into the central portion of said casing.

2. A separator as defined in claim 1, wherein adjacent windings of each of the coils have a multiplicity of openings defining filter areas between said windings, and said head including means for mounting the separator in connection with a suitable support.

3. A separator as defined in claim 1, wherein a plurality of the coils extend into the casing a greater degree than the remainder of such coils.

4. A separator as defined in claim 51, wherein means is provided for directing fluid under pressure, admitted into the casing through the bore in said disc, in radial directions.

5. .A separator as defined in claim 1, wherein adjacent windings of each of the coils have a multiplicity of openings defining filter areas between said windings, detachable mounting of the casing with the head comprising a rod-like member, and means on said member within the casing for directing flow of liquid radially in said casing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Davis June 13, 1911 

